"He was violent, he was verbal, he was abusive," Peg Kastberg, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools, tells "Today."

The boy reportedly threw a TV cart and pulled wood trim from the walls, the news show reports.

"I wanted to make something sharp, for, like, if they came out -- 'cause I was so mad at them," Aiden tells "Today." "I was gonna try to whack them with it."

Aidan's mom, Mandy Elliot, tells "Today" no other students were in the classroom at the time of the incident, and calls the use of pepper spray "excessive."

"The school he was at was for children who have social and emotional behavioral issues ... They know what the kids are capable of before they took him on. They could have also called and asked for a special unit who deals with children from the police department in these crisis situations," Elliot tells "Today."

This was his third incident involving police at school, "Today" reports. No charges were filed.

"I kind of deserved it," Aidan tells "Today."

Eliott tells the news show her son's violent behavior occurs only at school, but that Aidan has not been diagnosed with any disorder. She says she would like to see police training, for officers dealing with similar situations.

"I don't think it's right for an 8-year-old to get pepper-sprayed," she tells "Today."

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ReaderComments (Page 3 of 85)

The MOTHER should be ARRESTED for letting this kid get so far out of control, They also should BREAK HIS TOYS to teach HIM what he is doing to others ! This is a kid from hell ! He DOES NOT BELONG in public school. This is Columbine district, I don't blame the cops at all ! LOCK THIS KID UP !

I do hope they are able to get this Mother some parenting skills classes. As she seems totally unaware that this is a learned behavior and certainly NOT NORMAL behavior for a child this young. If this is what she is teaching as a normal behavior..... maybe she should be relieved of her child.

Sounds like the kid needs a good butt whoopin from his mom. It's amazing how degraded society has become. Back when it wasn't against the law to whoop kids, you didn't dare act the way these kids do now. Kids need discipline and to come to the realization that their actions have negative consequences, such as a good butt whoopin. I think the new age phschology movement that we need to reason and understand that its ok, kids are going to act this way has once again proven false. The American Board of Pediatrics, a few years back released a statement that kids need discipline and quote "spanking them does not hurt them."

The police did the right thing, and the parent is just stupid. She did not seem like she was mad at her son because of what he did but yet she is mad at the police officers. My parents would have never in this life time let me pull a stunt like that.

Kudos to the police (and I don't say that too frequently). As a psychiatrist I say they did the right thing, and the mother, rather than trying to exonerate him, should be the first one to praise SOMEONE disciplining this child! Heck, even the boy recognized he deserved it. Possibly he'll grow up in spite of the misguided mothering he appears to receive. And I hate to admit it, but therapy isn't the answer for this society's problems, good parenting is the first step.

Wow, the amount of people who are blaming the police. Police are trained to react to situations and use the tools they have. Pepper spray was a good use of force on this out of control child who is threatening injury to others. The officer could have used his taser or baton, but he chose the least force on his duty belt.

I don't blame the officer at all. This boy should have never reached this point at 8 years old. The mother isn't paying close enough attention or she is not seeing it or blames others....parents need to see their children for what they really are and how they really act. No child is the perfect little angel....it doesn't exist!

Either way, the boy needs more help and home behaivor modifications with guidence and discipline. It's also hard to believe this boy doesn't act this way at home. Something tells me if the boy doesn't get his way, the outbursts and anger start immediately.

K.Bay, the high school teacher is right on the bull's eye with her comment. And, I don't think "time outs" are working either. Also, a huge number of parents let their children do as they please, which will ruin the child as they get older. Parents MUST have total control, children need and look for discipline and guidence as well as a good dose of love!

And to clarify another comment, in most states you "can" still spank a child. There is a legal difference between spanking and using a belt or coat hanger whipping or beating a child. Call you local police or sheriff's office for information on what is permitted in your area.

This boy's mother should be taking more control of her child, it appears the boy is running the show here. She should have never appeared on TV about this. This is just feeding the incident and showing approval for the childs conduct in school...she's blaming others and should be looking at herself, the boy and the living situation at home....who is in control of everything?

If this boy is currently getting professional help and counseling, the mother should demand more from the professionals or switch doctors and/or counselors. Something is not working here....

This is the type of child we will read about in a few years who has committed some horrible crime and/or killed people. The mother has a chance to prevent this and give the boy a good life, but she needs to act now. She may also want to consider some counseling and/or training on how to raise a child with these disorders. Help is there, I hope she reaches for it.

The mother should be punished and then be FORCED to keep this brat at home 24/7Mother's are, more and more, defending their children and their actions all the time. I don't understand it.Whatever happened to: "Spare the rod, spoil the child"?Too many parents just stand back and let the kids do ANYTHING they want and parents don't seem to care, as long as their kids are quiet and out of their hair.I'm really beginning to have fear for MY future and my children!

The mother needs to get a grip and see that her son is a problem and a threat to all those around him. If he does this at school then he is most likely not a complete angel at home. The mother needs to get tested for sanity...the police should not have to treat his "mental issue". I stand by the police and there actions. If my daughter did this I would applaude them for pepper spraying her. Also what is going to happen the next time he gets "mad". What is it going to take to make parents wake up and realize that this is not ok to hold our kids hands forever...I have a 9 year old and I just don't get this story at all. Get over it mom, get counseling for you and your son, and hope that he does not kill someone before you wake the h*ll up!!

Why is this even on the news? Are they trying to get us to feel sorry for the little boy? Really! This kid needs help and so does the parent. If the police have to come to the school and deal with your child there are some major issues and there is no way he is a normal child at home.

I get sooo tired of parents who rationalize and blame others when their "offsprings" act up. Clearly, this woman is in denial and in the dark when it comes to her "little darling". She is in dire need of learning some serious parenting skills, When I was this kid's age and acted up in school, I faced corporeal punishment there and when I got home. I can only imagine what this kid's home life is like. I say bring back spanking...at home and school...and while they're at it, parental responsibility, too.

When kids act up in violent ways something has to be done. This child was out of control and I do not believe for one minute that it happens just in school. I also do not believe that he has not been diagnosed with some disorder. He would not be in a special school or class without some kind of paper work addressing his issues. The parent needs to come to terms with her child and stop blaming everyone else for what they do to stop it. I am so sick of schools being blamed for all of the bad things happening in the world.

Why are we making a "star" out of this rotten violent brat and his ignorant mother.....stop blaming the police, they risk their lives everyday dealing with kids like this when they grow up into violent young teenagers and adults!!

I think the teachers should have the right to use what ever means necessary to protect themselves and deal with a child who is disruptive to the learning process. maybe that kid will think twice about acting out if the teacher has pepper spray in her pocket

I'm sure he sounded threatening, but pepper spray STILL is not needed when the suspect is only four feet tall- police officers are grown adults, they could have just grabbed his arms and he would'nt have been able to throw anything else.

I think this mother is sending the wrong message to her son by her reaction to this incident. Perhaps if she explained to him that these are the consequences of this type of behavior he could begin a correctional path. This is a child who has been to 3 schools and sees a therapist weekly and is only 8. The child seems to understand the deserving of this pepper spray better than his mother does. Scary!

This young man has no impulse control and unfortunately for this family this child requires more then this school is able to offer emotionally and physically and possibly more then the family can manage. I do not believe that school is the only environment this child is unable to control his impulses, I do believe mom hasn't admitted to herself due to being afraid that it is a reflection of her parenting. Your child is suffering emotionally and the physical piece will follow with is increased inability to control his impulses and inability to tell him self no. This may be neurological or psychological induced or a combination. Unfortunately one is not able to truly diagnose until 18 although the symptoms can be managed possibly through environment, medications, and therapy if given the opportunity. Mom be honest, and be real get your son the help he needs to be successful and goal oriented. The pepper spray shouldn't be your focus and should be the least of your worries. You need to worry more about the behavior that induced the pepper spray if not things your son will indure and encounter over the years will get more significant in order intervene in a situation he has caused.

TheTalkies

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